Many smart TVs regularly take screenshots to track user behavior. This is how you can turn off the ACR function on Samsung and LG.
Dortmund – You watch a video about winter tires – and shortly afterwards you see tire advertising? Quite possible, because modern televisions record what their users watch – such as a program on a new free TV channel. The Federal Network Agency has been warning about the so-called “Automatic Content Recognition” (ACR) for a long time.
TV secretly takes screenshots – users can deactivate the function
Many consumers are now paying more attention to data protection. Smart TVs, of all things, turn out to be unexpected data octopuses. A 2020 investigation by the Federal Cartel Office sheds critical light on the practices of device manufacturers and connected services.
Because clever televisions collect far more data than many consumers realize. The devices, which are in more than every second household, take screenshots of the screen every second – and send this and other data to the manufacturer. They sometimes pass this on so that they can then display personalized advertising.
Like the tech portal t3n reported, however, not all of the screenshots, some of which were taken in milliseconds, end up on the manufacturer’s servers. If the screen of a smartphone is mirrored and YouTube or Netflix is running there, no data will flow out. (Read more digital news at RUHR24).
State media center calls ACR function in smart TVs “problematic”
The Baden-Württemberg State Media Center also warns that the televisions must be clearly identified. “The problem here is that in 80 percent of cases the outflow of this basic data cannot be restricted or cannot be restricted without specialist knowledge.”
The ACR feature is built into many popular smart TV brands, including devices from Samsung, LG and Sony. It is often enabled by default but can be disabled in the settings. However, another TV function can be useful for users.
However, these settings are usually not easy to find. Sometimes it takes dozens of clicks to get to the right menu. But what is much more problematic is that many users are not even aware that their smart TV is using this technology and is accessing their data.
Smart TV takes screenshots: This is how ACR can be switched off on Samsung, Sony and LG
But the ACR data collection function can be switched off on smart TVs. This is how it works for the three largest manufacturers:
- Samsung Smart TVs:
- Call up “Settings”.
- Then select “Support”.
- Click on “Terms of Use”.
- Disable: “Viewing Information Services”
- LG Smart TVs:
- Press the Settings button
- Scroll to “All Settings”
- Select “General”.
- Then go to “Additional Settings”.
- Disable: “Live Plus”
- Sony Smart TVs:
- Press the Home button on the remote control
- Select “Settings”.
- Click on “System Settings”.
- Disable or Off: Interactive TV Settings or Samba Interactive TV
This allows you to turn off the ACR data collection function on most common televisions. Other manufacturers often have similar names for the functions.
Federal Cartel Office uncovers violations: more transparency before purchasing smart TVs
In its 2020 report, the Federal Cartel Office would like to see more transparency for customers before they buy a smart TV. During the investigation, the authority uncovered “a series of consumer law violations”. Another federal agency recently warned of a serious security vulnerability.
Overall, the Federal Cartel Office comes to the conclusion: “Regardless of their practical advantages for the user, smart TV devices can also be used to collect data about consumers and their usage behavior at great intensity and to use it for advertising purposes, even if these options are limited by the The relevant Smart TV providers are currently far from being exhausted.”